Call it a career, Brett.  And a marvelous one it has been.  Word today is that Brett Favre has notified his coach that he is retiring after 17 seasons in the NFL.  My take is that he has made a very good choice.  Simply put, he leaves on top.  Imagine if he’d have left after one of the last couple of seasons the Packers struggled, and he was maligned.  But, upon completion of a season in which he shredded just about every record known to passers, and upon having been the veteran that molded a young and up-and-coming team together - a young team that played way beyond expectations in 2007 - it’s a great time to say goodbye.  So, it’s Mr. Rodgers neighborhood now.  It is a thankless job to follow a legendary QB in the NFL.  Think I’m kidding?  Ask Brian Griese.

Speaking of which, as I told you last week - this is a good move.  I have been reading all the nay-saying comments.  Don’t forget that run that Brian had in Tampa before his knee injury.  Don’t hold the time in Chicago against him.  This is a very good move for the Bucs.  Mark my words.  And, as I said before, the most important thing is that Coach Gruden likes Brian.  If you’ve learned one thing about Coach Gruden’s work with QBs, note that if he likes them, things go well (the one notable exception being Bruce Gradkowski), and if he doesn’t like them… well, er… Chris Simms.  Besides, Brian is another Rich Gannon looking signal caller.  That’s all Gruden needs to see.  Aging guy.  Cerebral.  Cast off somewhere else.  Hard to get ahold of like a chicken.  Perfect.

Randy Moss signs a new deal with the Patriots.  Surprise!  I told you that last week.  All the talk of leaving New England or reuniting with Daunte Culpepper was a spray of contact negotiating bull.  Moss never intended to go anywhere.  Trade Brady tossing the ball to him for Culpepper… are you kidding me?  And, most importantly, the Pats never intended to let him leave.  That’s why NO ONE ELSE in the NFL even looked his direction.  They knew it.  Why waste the breath.

Big Ben got a big raise in Pittsburgh.  Deserved.  He will be the man for a long time to come, as long as they keep him off his motorcycle.

Back to the Bucs for a moment - what of Warrick Dunn’s newfound freedom to land somewhere else?  Could he be coming back to Tampa?  Once again, I’ll take the flack - I hope so.  He’d be a great third down back for us, especially with Michael Pittman’s expected exit.  Those who worry that he is too small or too old - look at his numbers.  Those folks who know say that Indy is his most likely destination because of his relationship with Tony Dungy.  Hey, Warrick!  Consider it this way, my friend: Come to Tampa!  You own a house there.  Tony Dungy does too!  And, in another 12 months, that’s where you’ll find Tony full time.  Besides, I’ve still got a Dunn #28 jersey that sits in my drawer.  I’d love to pull it out again.  Wouldn’t it be cool if you could trade in old jerseys?  I got a Keyshawn, a Dilfer, a Rice… man, I could get a new Griese shirt and a Faine shirt and… do you suppose I could get a ‘Big Nasty’ jersey?